Research Progress on Catalytic Pyrolysis of Biomass for Aldehyde and Ketone Production
Aldehydes and ketones are valuable oxygen-containing organic intermediates essential for synthesizing fine chemicals, fuels, and materials. Lignocellulosic biomass, as the most abundant renewable carbon resource with an annual production exceeding 180 billion tons, offers a sustainable route to produce platform carbonyl compounds such as furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and low-molecular-weight aliphatic ketones via pyrolysis. This review systematically summarizes recent progress in catalytic pyrolysis of biomass for aldehyde and ketone production. It first outlines the structural features, types, and biomass-derived origins of typical carbonyl platform molecules. Second, it compares the decomposition pathways and intermediate evolution behaviors of cellulose-rich, hemicellulose-rich, and lignin-rich biomasses under non-catalytic pyrolysis, clarifying the influence of multicomponent synergistic effects on aldehyde and ketone formation. Particular emphasis is placed on the mechanistic roles and dominant reaction pathways of metal salts, metal oxides, and carbon-based catalytic systems in regulating key steps such as dehydration, decarbonylation, C−O/C−C bond cleavage, and skeletal rearrangement. The review identifies major challenges, including unclear catalyst structure-activity relationships, inadequate active site stability, and limited product selectivity. Future perspectives propose rational design of multilevel structured catalysts, integration of in situ characterization with multiscale simulation, and development of green scale-up and process integration strategies. This work aims to provide a systematic theoretical reference for high-value biomass utilization and renewable carbon conversion.